Wright State scored the final five runs of the game to overcome a 7-3 deficit and defeat the Youngstown State baseball team 8-7 on Saturday afternoon in the second game of a three-game Horizon League series at Nischwitz Stadium in Dayton, Ohio.
The Penguins scored three times in the top of the fourth to break a 2-2 tie before the Raiders scored a single run in the home half of the inning. YSU struck for two runs in the sixth to build a 7-3 advantage before Wright State scored five unanswered runs over its final three at bats to rally for the series-clinching win.
The Penguins carried a 7-6 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning. Julian Greenwell drew a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Sammy Sass and scored on an RBI triple from Jay Luikart. Ben Vore brought home Luikart with a sacrifice fly to give the Raiders the walk-off victory.
Chase Franken went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run while Eli Brown hit a two-run blast and drove in three runs. Aiden Dunlap went 2-for-3 with a double and scored three runs while Trey Law and Alejandro Covas each notched two hits and an RBI.
YSU starter Brandon Mikos allowed three runs on four hits over four innings while Braden Gebhardt was responsible for three runs on four hits over 3.1 innings of relief. Chris Domke suffered the loss after surrendering two runs on one hit in one inning out of the bullpen.
The Penguins took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning as Dunlap hit a two-out single and Brown followed with a two-run home run to left field.
The Raiders evened the score with two runs on three hits in the bottom of the third inning. Drew Baker hit a leadoff double and scored on an RBI double from Carson Clark before Sass drove home Clark with a two-out RBI single.
Youngstown State regained the advantage with three runs on three hits in the top of the fourth inning. RJ Sherwood reached with a leadoff single, advanced to third on a double by Dunlap and scored on a sacrifice fly from Brown. Franken followed with a two-run blast to right field to put the Penguins in front 5-2.
Wright State scored a single run in the home half of the fourth to pull within 5-3. Vore hit a leadoff triple and scored on a sacrifice fly from Boston Smith.
The Penguins pushed their lead to 7-3 with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth inning. Dunlap drew a leadoff walk and raced home on a wild pitch while Covas delivered a two-out RBI single to center field.
The Raiders cut YSU's lead in half with two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Baker hit a leadoff double and Greenwell was hit by a pitch to set up a two-out, two-run triple to left center by Sass. Wright State shaved YSU's lead to a single run at 7-6 in the home half of the eighth when Smith hit a solo home run to right center field.
Wright State starter Garret Simpson allowed four runs on seven hits over 3.1 innings while Griffen Paige permitted three runs on three hits over 2.1 innings of relief. Josh Laisure tossed 2.2 scoreless innings while Brayden Shoetzow picked up the win after recording the final two outs in the top of the ninth.
The Penguins and Raiders will conclude their three-game Horizon League series on Sunday. First pitch at Nischwitz Stadium in Dayton is scheduled for 1 p.m.
